Marine diver vessel

ABSTRACT

A marine diver vessel including a buoyed frame having a diver&#39;&#39;s well suspended therefrom for normal submersion beneath the surface of the water. A motor is mounted on the frame and a steering handle is accessible from the well so a diver can partially submerge in such well and perform such functions as strapping an aqua lung to his back while being protected from the surrounding environment and can also steer the vessel from such well.

United States Patent 1 Deveney Feb. 12, 1974 1 MARKNE DIVER VESSEL [76] Inventor: Frank P. Deveney, 5141 Carita,

Long Beach, Calif. 90808 [22] Filed: Mar. 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 239,235

[52] US. Cl. 114/16 R, 114/66 [51] Int. Cl. B63g 8/00 [58] Field of Search 114/16 R, 16 A, 16.4, 66, 61, 114/144 R, 144 A; 9/43, 310 H, 14; 61/69 R,

69 A; 115/18 B, 18 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 981,314 l/l9ll Robinson 6l/69R 2,669,733, 2/1954 3,164,122 l/l965 3,299,645 l/1967 3,400,680 9/1963 Taylor 114/16 R Malin 114/61 Bajulaz 114/16 Primary Examiner-Duane A. Reger Assistant ExaminerD. C. Butler Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Fulwider, Patton, Rieber, Lee & Utecht [57] ABSTRACT A marine diver vessel including a buoyed frame having a divers well suspended therefrom for normal submersion beneath the surface of the water. A motor is mounted on the frame and a steering handle is accessible from the well so a diver can partially submerge in such well and perform such functions as strapping an aqua lung to his back while being protected fromthe surrounding environment and can also steer the vessel from such well.

6 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures MARHNE DlVER VESSEL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to a vessel for use by scuba divers and the like.

2. Description of the Prior Art:

Various devices have been proposed for lowering an underwater observer from a surface vessel but such devices suffer the shortcoming that they are relatively expensive and most fail to incorporate a porous underwater well that will enable a skin diver to actually experience underwater diving conditions while still protected from the underwater elements. Applicant is aware of the following US. Patents Nos. 1,786,091, Stiles 3,254,621, White 3,379,157, Post 3,437,067, Malin 3,090,339, Carr 3,384,043, Rehrer 3,400,680, Taylor 3,425,231, Rehrer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The marine diver vessel of present invention is characterized by an open mesh underwater well in which a diver can fully or partially submerge himself and perform such functions as putting his equipment in place and even steer the vessel while conducting underwater exploration.

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a marine diver vessel embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the marine diver vessel shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right hand end view of the marine diver vessel shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view, in enlarged scale, taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a partial bottom view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a left hand end view of the marine diver vessel shown in FIG. 1;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The marine diver vessel of present invention includes, generally, a frame 11 carried on a pair of spaced apart buoyant pontoons 13 and 15. Suspended from the frame 11 is a submergible divers well, generally designated 17, in the form of a framework having fish net drawn thereover. The vessel is powered by means of an outboard motor 19 (FIG. 1) mounted on one end of such vessel. A steering handle 21 is mounted on the opposite end of such vessel and is normally submerged in the well 17 as shown in FIG. 2 so a diver may descend into such well and will be protected from the surrounding environment while he performs such functions as mounting his aqua lung and the like. The diver may then grasp the steering handle 21 and ma neuver the vessel about while observing the surrounding underwater activity.

The pontoons 13 and are conveniently formed from encased styrofoam and the deck 24 is secured thereon by means of elongated vertical bolts 25 as shown in FIG. 5.

The frame 11 includes two pairs of forwardly projecting above-water struts 27 and 29 as shown in FIG. 1 and such struts are turned upwardly and forwardly as shown in FIG. 2. A generally U-shaped steering handle mount, generally designated 31, has its rearwardly projecting ends connected to the front ends of the struts 27 and 29 by means of respective hinges 33.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4 the steering handle 21 is carried from a vertical steering post 37 which is journaled through a bearing 39 carried in the central portion of the steering handle mount 31. The steering post 31 is vertically telescopical in the bearing 39 and is ment fitting 40 which is screwed through a threaded radial bore in such bearing so the vertical adjustment of such post may be selectively set. Keyed to the central portion of the steering post 37 is a spool 41 which has the proximate ends of steering cable 43 and 45 (FIG. 1) wound in opposite directions thereon, the opposite ends of such cables extending outwardly along the mount 31 and turning rearwardly over respective capstans or pulleys 47 and 49 to project rearwardly and then turn inwardly around respective capstans 51 and 53 to be secured to opposite sides of a rearwardly opening fitting 55 that is telescoped over the steering handle 57 of the motor 19.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 6 the divers well 17 is rectangular in plan view and has a hatchway 61 formed in the bottom thereof and normally covered by a hinged hatch cover 63. The top of the well 17 is also formed with a hatchway 65 (FIG. 1) which may be covered by a hinged hatch cover 67.

The well 17 itself is suspended from the frame 1 1 by means of a pair of suspension cables 69 and 71 (FIG. 1) that are secured to the top side of such well and extend upwardly to thread over respective pulleys 73 and 75 and extend rearwardly along opposite sides of the frame 11 to turn inwardly past rearwardly over respective pulleys 77 and 79 to project inwardly and then turn rearwardly over respective pulleys 81 and 83. The rear extremity of the respective cables 69, 71 are secured to a winch drum 85 whereby the handle 87 of such winch may be rotated to raise or lower the well 17.

Referring to FIG. 4 the well 17 includes a framework constructed of horizontally disposed upper and lower slightly resilient rectangular rims 101 and 103 which are connected together by vertically extending removable struts 105 and 107 so such struts maybe selectively removed and the bottom rim 103 collapsed upwardly against the top rim 101 as shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, the deck 24 is formed at its forward extremity with a central U-shaped cut out 91 disposed in alignment with the hatchway 55. Supported in the cut out 91 is a removable ladder 95 which has a foldable platform 97 (FIG. 4) mounted on the bottom thereof.

In operation the diving crew may launch the vessel of present invention and ride on the deck 24 while steering such vessel by means of the steering handle 57.

When the vessel is utilized in this manner the divers well 17 may be elevated to its raised position shown in FIG. 2, the struts and 107 disconnected from one or both of the frame rims 101 and 103 and the lower rim 103 drawn upwardly against the upper rim 101.

The mount may then be raised slightly to the position shown in FIG. 2 and the steering post 37 also elevated to clear the waters surface, it being realized that the slight resiliency of the rims 101 and 103 enables slight bowing thereof as the mount 31 is raised.

When the site of the dive is reached, the vessel is stopped, the steering mount 31 lowered and the bottom rim 103 of the well 17 released to enable such well to assume its extended position. The diver may conveniently get into his wet suit while remaining on the deck 24 and may then place the ladder 95 in the position shown in FIG. 1 and 4 and then climb down such ladder to enter the divers well 17 through the top hatchway 65. He may then attach the vertical well struts 105 and 107. The divers paraphernalia, such as aqua lung, may be distributed on the deck 24 about the cut out 91 to be accessible from the well 17 while the diver stands on the platform 97. After the diver has all his equipment in place, he can then maneuver about within the well 17 and grasp the underwater steering handle 21 to maneuver the vessel about while he observes the underwater scene and locates and exactly positions the vessel in a desired location. The attendant on the deck 24 can then shut the motor 19 off and the underwater diver can open the bottom hatch cover 63 and exit the bottom hatchway 61 to further investigate the surrounding underwater area. Upon his return to the well 17 the diver may again enter through the bottom hatchway 61 and perform further functions in connection with retrieving or returning equipment to the deck 24.

If desirable, the diver may remain within the well 17 and the above water attendant may actuate the winch 85 to lower the well 17 in the water to enable the diver to more closely observe deeper underwater locations while remaining in the protective confines of the well 17. After the well 17 has been lowered below the level of the bottom of the ladder 95 the top hatch cover 67 may be closed to prevent entry of sea life such as sharks and the like. After the underwater investigation is complete, the above water attendant may then again actuate the winch BS to reel in the cables 69 and 71 to hoist the well 17 back to the position shown in FIG. 2.

It will be appreciated that the cables 69 and 71 enable the well 17 to be rapidly disconnected from the vessel itself in case such well becomes entangled with underwater growth to thereby free the vessel to return to its port without further endangering the crew thereon.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the marine divers vessel of present invention is relatively inexpensive to contruct and provides convenient means for a diver to perform certain underwater functions while remaining within the protective confines of the well and enabling him to direct his full attention to his underwater work. Additionally, the diver has the capability of maneuvering the vessel about while remaining underwater thereby utilizing the drive power of the vessel rather than depending solely on his own swimming capability for motivation.

Various modifications and changes may be made with respect to the foregoing detailed description without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A marine diver vessel comprising:

a frame;

buoyant means for supporting said frame on water;

a normally submerged divers well formed by porous walls that define a divers compartment;

carrying means carrying said well from said frame with said compartment submerged below the water surface;

propulsion means carried from said frame means;

steering means for directing said vessel;

and helm means mounted on said frame and including a steering handle disposed below the surface of said water and accessible by a swimmer submerged in said compartment and coupled with said steering means whereby a diver submerged in said compartment may control said vessel to guide it about said water while viewing the underwater area from an underwater position.

2. A marine diver vessel as set forth in claim 1 wherein: i

said compartment is formed with an underwater hatchway for egress of a diver.

3. A marine diver vessel as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said carrying means includes means for raising and lowering said compartment relative to said frame means.

4. A marine diver vessel as set forth in claim 1 that includes:

a ladder carried from said frame means and projecting downwardly into said chamber.

5. A marine diver vessel as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said propulsion means includes an outboard motor carried from said frame means for rotation about a vertical axis;

and said steering means includes connecting means means. 

1. A marine diver vessel comprising: a frame; buoyant means for supporting said frame on water; a normally submerged diver''s well formed by porous walls that define a diver''s compartment; carrying means carrying said well from said frame with said compartment submerged below the water surface; propulsion means carried from said frame means; steering means for directing said vessel; and helm means mounted on said frame and including a steering handle disposed below the surface of said water and accessible by a swimmer submerged in said compartment and coupled with said steering means whereby a diver submerged in said compartment may control said vessel to guide it about said water while viewing the underwater area from an underwater position.
 2. A marine diver vessel as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said compartment is formed with an underwater hatchway for egress of a diver.
 3. A marine diver vessel as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said carrying means includes means for raising and lowering said compartment relative to said frame means.
 4. A marine diver vessel as set forth in claim 1 that includes: a ladder carried from said frame means and projecting downwardly into said chamber.
 5. A marine diver vessel as set Forth in claim 1 wherein: said propulsion means includes an outboard motor carried from said frame means for rotation about a vertical axis; and said steering means includes connecting means connecting said steering handle with said outboard motor.
 6. A marine diver vessel as set forth in claim 1 wherein: said buoyancy means includes a pair of coextensive spaced apart pontoons; said compartment is, at least partially, disposed between the extremities of said pontoons at one end of said vessel; said propulsion means is movable to steer said vessel and is disposed at the end of said vessel opposite said one end; said steering means includes connecting means connecting said steering wheel with said propulsion means. 